Note: Each area is delineated by connecting the coordinates in the order listed by straight lines. The last set of coordinates for each area is connected to the first set of coordinates for the area by a straight line. Projected coordinate system is North American Datum 1983, Albers.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for comments.

Effective December 3, 2015 through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time, December 31, 2015. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, December 18, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch (ITAC) and total allowable catch (TAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) northern rockfish, BSAI octopus, BSAI sculpins, and BSAI skates in the BSAI management area. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.

80 FR 76250 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sculpins in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2015 initial total allowable catch of sculpins in the BSAI has been reached.

2015-11-16; vol. 80 # 220 - Monday, November 16, 2015

80 FR 70717 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole for Vessels Participating in the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 allocation of yellowfin sole total allowable catch for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the BSAI.

2015-11-04; vol. 80 # 213 - Wednesday, November 4, 2015

80 FR 68267 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2015 total allowable catch of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the GOA will be reached.

NMFS is adjusting the 2015 seasonal apportionments of the total allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by re-apportioning unharvested pollock TAC in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of the GOA. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2015 pollock TAC, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.

2015-10-30; vol. 80 # 210 - Friday, October 30, 2015

80 FR 66839 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; reallocation.

Effective October 30, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS is exchanging unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of rock sole and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

2015-10-28; vol. 80 # 208 - Wednesday, October 28, 2015

80 FR 65971 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; reallocation.

Effective October 27, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS is exchanging allocations of Amendment 80 cooperative quota (CQ) for Amendment 80 acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

2015-10-22; vol. 80 # 204 - Thursday, October 22, 2015

80 FR 63930 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; modification of a closure.

Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 20, 2015, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., November 3, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to fully use the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch specified for the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; correction.

Effective October 16, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is correcting a temporary rule that exchanged unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves that published on October 5, 2015. The CDQ group that initiated this transfer was incorrect.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; correction.

Effective October 16, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is correcting a temporary rule that reapportioned halibut prohibited species catch limits in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) that published on September 11, 2015. The table in the document contained errors.

2015-10-08; vol. 80 # 195 - Thursday, October 8, 2015

80 FR 60807 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of the 2015 Atka mackerel incidental catch allowance (ICA) for the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian district (BS/EAI) to the Amendment 80 cooperative allocations in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of Atka mackerel in the BSAI to be fully harvested.

2015-10-05; vol. 80 # 192 - Monday, October 5, 2015

80 FR 60073 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; reallocation.

Effective October 5, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS is exchanging unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

Title 50 published on 2015-10-01

The following are ALL rules, proposed rules, and notices (chronologically) published in the Federal Register relating to 50 CFR Part 679after this date.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Proposed rule; request for comments.

Comments must be received by January 8, 2016.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS proposes 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications, apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2016 and 2017 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Proposed rule; request for comments.

Comments must be received by January 8, 2016.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS proposes 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2016 and 2017 fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

2015-12-08; vol. 80 # 235 - Tuesday, December 8, 2015

80 FR 76249 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for comments.

Effective December 3, 2015 through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time, December 31, 2015. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, December 18, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch (ITAC) and total allowable catch (TAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) northern rockfish, BSAI octopus, BSAI sculpins, and BSAI skates in the BSAI management area. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.

80 FR 76250 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sculpins in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2015 initial total allowable catch of sculpins in the BSAI has been reached.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); control date.

December 31, 2015, shall be known as the control date for the offshore sector of the trawl groundfish fisheries in the Aleutian Islands and may be used as a reference date for participation in a future management action that is consistent with the Council's objectives and applicable Federal laws.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

At the request of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), this document announces a control date of December 31, 2015, that may be used as a reference date for a future management action to limit future access to the offshore sector of the trawl groundfish fisheries in the Aleutian Islands. This date corresponds to the end of the 2015 fishing season in these fisheries. In October 2015, the Council announced its intent to evaluate participation and effort in the offshore sector of the trawl groundfish fisheries in the Aleutian Islands fisheries in response to a public request to consider further limits on access to the fisheries. This document is intended to promote awareness of possible rulemaking and provide notice to the public that any participation in the offshore sector of the trawl groundfish fisheries in the Aleutian Islands after the control date may not ensure continued access to those fisheries under a future management action. This document is also intended to discourage speculative entry into the fisheries while the Council considers whether and how access to the fisheries may be further limited under a future management action.

2015-11-19; vol. 80 # 223 - Thursday, November 19, 2015

80 FR 72408 - Control Date for the Trawl Limited Access Fishery for Yellowfin Sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); control date.

October 13, 2015, shall be known as the control date for the offshore sector of the BSAI trawl limited access fishery for yellowfin sole and may be used as a reference for participation in a future management action that is consistent with the Council's objectives and applicable Federal laws.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

At the request of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), this document announces a control date of October 13, 2015, that may be used as a reference date for a future management action to limit future access to the offshore sector of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) trawl limited access fishery for yellowfin sole. This date corresponds to the date the Council announced its intent to evaluate participation and effort in response to a public request to consider further limits on access to the offshore sector of the BSAI trawl limited access fishery for yellowfin sole. This document is intended to promote awareness of possible rulemaking and provide notice to the public that any participation in the offshore sector of the BSAI trawl limited access fishery for yellowfin sole after the control date may not ensure continued access to that fishery under a future management action. This document is also intended to discourage speculative entry into the fishery while the Council considers whether and how access to the fishery may be further limited under a future management action.

2015-11-16; vol. 80 # 220 - Monday, November 16, 2015

80 FR 70717 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole for Vessels Participating in the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 allocation of yellowfin sole total allowable catch for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the BSAI.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Proposed rule; request for comments.

Submit comments on or before December 16, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 111 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). The proposed rule would reduce bycatch limits, also known as prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, for Pacific halibut in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) groundfish fisheries by specific amounts in four groundfish sectors: The Amendment 80 sector (non-pollock trawl catcher/processors); the BSAI trawl limited access sector (all non-Amendment 80 trawl fishery participants); the non-trawl sector (primarily hook-and-line catcher/processors); and the Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program (CDQ Program, also referred to as the CDQ sector). This action is necessary to minimize halibut bycatch in the BSAI groundfish fisheries to the extent practicable and to achieve, on a continuing basis, optimum yield from the BSAI groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.

2015-11-04; vol. 80 # 213 - Wednesday, November 4, 2015

80 FR 68267 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2015 total allowable catch of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the GOA will be reached.

NMFS is adjusting the 2015 seasonal apportionments of the total allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by re-apportioning unharvested pollock TAC in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of the GOA. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2015 pollock TAC, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.

2015-10-30; vol. 80 # 210 - Friday, October 30, 2015

80 FR 66839 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; reallocation.

Effective October 30, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS is exchanging unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of rock sole and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice of availability of amendment to fishery management plan; request for comments.

Submit comments on or before December 28, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 111 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) for review. Amendment 111 to the FMP would reduce bycatch limits, also known as Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) limits, by specific amounts in four groundfish sectors: the Amendment 80 sector (non-pollock trawl catcher/processors); the BSAI trawl limited access sector (all non-Amendment 80 trawl fishery participants); the BSAI non-trawl sector (primarily hook-and-line catcher/processors); and the Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program (CDQ Program, also referred to as the CDQ sector). This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMP, and other applicable laws.

2015-10-28; vol. 80 # 208 - Wednesday, October 28, 2015

80 FR 65971 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; reallocation.

Effective October 27, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS is exchanging allocations of Amendment 80 cooperative quota (CQ) for Amendment 80 acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

2015-10-22; vol. 80 # 204 - Thursday, October 22, 2015

80 FR 63930 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; modification of a closure.

Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 20, 2015, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., November 3, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to fully use the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch specified for the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; correction.

Effective October 16, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is correcting a temporary rule that exchanged unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves that published on October 5, 2015. The CDQ group that initiated this transfer was incorrect.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; correction.

Effective October 16, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is correcting a temporary rule that reapportioned halibut prohibited species catch limits in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) that published on September 11, 2015. The table in the document contained errors.

2015-10-08; vol. 80 # 195 - Thursday, October 8, 2015

80 FR 60807 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of the 2015 Atka mackerel incidental catch allowance (ICA) for the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian district (BS/EAI) to the Amendment 80 cooperative allocations in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of Atka mackerel in the BSAI to be fully harvested.

2015-10-05; vol. 80 # 192 - Monday, October 5, 2015

80 FR 60073 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; reallocation.

Effective October 5, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

50 CFR Part 679

Summary

NMFS is exchanging unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.